Long-term injuries are the least of their problems. For these NHL Western Conference teams it’s going to take a lot of hard work and a healthy attitude from now on if they want a shot at the playoffs:

9 Vancouver Canucks
10 Phoenix Coyotes
11 Columbus Blue Jackets
12 St. Louis Blues
13 Edmonton Oilers
14 Chicago Blackhawks
15 Los Angeles Kings

The Eastern Conference features a few teams that were once Stanley Cup contenders. A lot can happen in a year:

9 Buffalo Sabres
10 Atlanta Thrashers
11 Washington Capitals
12 Florida Panthers
13 New York Islanders
14 Toronto Maple Leafs
15 Tampa Bay Lightning

With 25 games left in the regular season there’s still hope for teams like the Vancouver Canucks and the Buffalo Sabres, for example, who can still turn their game around and make a strong showing in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs. But if the playoffs started tomorrow, well…let’s just say they’d better brush up on their golf swing.

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